Total Computer Services

29/04/2024

Please note we are currently suffering a Broadband outage due to a fault on the line. Therefore all services are running over a 4g mobile network which is slow. To contact us use the mobile number 0794905128 instead as the speed of the 4G network is not enough to handle the SIP line traffic. Sorry for the inconvenience.

04/12/2022

Please note our SIP telephone lines will be down this afternoon (4/12/22) for maintenance. The numbers effected are 01797-208247 and 01303-884445. Please use 07949-051328 instead. I will update when they are live again. Tony.

04/11/2022

25/10/2022

An LG television repaired today that came in with the usual' blue picture' issue that certain models suffer from LG that are about 3 to 5 years old. The only fix for this is a complete back light change which means stripping the TV down completely, including the screen being removed. A successful outcome but I do wish LG would make their televisions easier to service and strip down, it was a nightmare as usual with a great chance of causing further damage through the whole process.

07/02/2022

Please note that the new main number is now 01797-208247.

24/01/2022

Due to the imminent analogue phone cut off in 2025, I am currently transferring the 01797-364950 number across to a SIP based service. Anybody who deals in VoIP technology will know the precarious nature of this crossover due to the number being tied to a service agreement. Therefore this number could be a bit intermittent over the coming weeks.

If you require assistance, the best numbers to call us on during this cutover period is either 01797-208247 (an existing SIP trunk) or my mobile which is 07949-051328.

I am in the process of creating an IVR that will allow you to automatically go through to the mobile number (07949-051328) if you dial 01797-208247.

Apologies for the disruption during this transition period.

Tony.

10/01/2022

A project that has been in planning for the last 6 weeks was implemented today and was installed without any issues.

The project included linking 4 properties within a very large estate together so that the network literally looks private, even though the Internet is utilised for connection.

All of the the sites are now connected using VLAN and VPN technologies, meaning that each properties personal data is isolated and private but their joint IT devices such as CCTV and security gate access are all interlinked.

It was a very good feeling to have this solution work first time.

23/11/2021

Another laptop stripped down and fixed today.

The customer originally gave this laptop to another computer repair company who said they had replaced the video cable. Within two days it had failed again and he was then told that it was the graphics chip on the motherboard that had failed.

I was then asked to look at it and after some testing it became apparent that it was the video cable that had failed and it had never actually been replaced.

After a good search I found a replacement cable which finally arrived this morning. As can be clearly seen, the replacement cable has completely resolved the issue.

21/11/2021

A nice little repair this weekend. I received a Bose Acoustic Wave CD3000 about four weeks ago that did not even recognise that a CD was loaded.

Spares for any Bose system are very hard to come by but fortunately I was able to find a new drive mechanism for it, although it had to come from abroad.

The part finally arrived on Thursday and I have today stripped the unit down and fitted the new mechanism. It is once again happily playing CD's as it should be.

14/11/2021

A particularly difficult repair carried out this weekend at TCS Towers. The migration of a complete laptop in to a new casing due to the old one breaking and the screen literally hanging off. The difficulties of these jobs are the cable routing, risk of damaging cables whilst being carried out and static damage (hence the many anti static cables visible).

After an initial worry following the migration when the laptop refused to boot, analysis was carried out and the problem was fault found to be the CMOS Battery that had failed. Dell laptops will literally not start up and just flash warning codes on the power LED when this occurs.

BIOS Battery replaced and the device immediately booted up without issue. Pictures attached, include the old casing which shows the scale of the task and how tricky it can be routing the cabling.

02/08/2021

Don't forget that at Total Computer Services I can repair down to component level and am happy to repair any electronic equipment.

Three repairs I carried out today.

1. Bose Wave CD not even powering up. After detailed analysis using a multimeter and oscilloscope it became apparent where the fault lay. Now working once again.

2. Roland Street Cube generating crackle and pops intermittently. After a fair bit of oscilloscope testing, the fault was discovered in a dry solder joint in the input section.

3. Disco light that the input wires had torn away the tracks on the circuit board. I created new tracks and soldered the wires back onto those. Fully working again.

I have also had a couple of computers appear over the last few months that were diagnosed as unrepairable by other computer companies, due to motherboard failure. A quick look on the test bench, a few components replaced and those computers are once again working back at the customers homes.

11/05/2021

Sorry for the delay in posts recently, it has been extremely busy at TCS.

This post is just a reassurance to all my customers that I am doing my upmost to keep you all safe from COVID.

Second vaccine all booked and I am taking home tests twice a week to reassure everybody. This was last nights.